Portret van Charlotte Asser c. 1853

Eduard Isaac Asser made this photograph of Charlotte Asser using the calotype process. This early photographic technique involved coating paper with silver iodide. The resulting print displays a soft, almost painterly quality. Look closely at the textures – the smooth, flowing lines of Charlotte’s dress, the delicate lace collar, and the subtle gradations of light and shadow across her face. The calotype's unique materiality invites us to consider the social context of early photography. Unlike painting, which was the domain of the wealthy, photography offered a new means of representation, though still requiring technical skill. The amount of labor involved, from preparing the chemicals to posing for the portrait, speaks to the changing dynamics of representation in the 19th century. The rise of photography challenged traditional notions of art, blurring the lines between craft, technology, and artistic expression. It is a reminder that materials and making are central to understanding the full meaning of any artwork.